In an open letter, Petzl, Black Diamond Inc. and more than two dozen other outdoor companies and organizations asked Utah's Congressional delegation to recognize the significant value of their contributions to the state economy and stop supporting proposals that cut funding for key conservation and recreation programs and end protections for valuable pristine lands in Utah.


“Our industry brings some $4 billion and 65,000 jobs to the Utah economy,” said Mark (Roody) Rasmussen, the President of Clearfield based Petzl America, who organized the effort to send the letter.


“And yet my own Representative, Rob Bishop, as well as the rest of our delegation, act as if the policies they are supporting in Washington will have no negative impacts on Utah jobs and the Utah economy. These policies are short sighted and ignore the significant contribution to our economy provided by hundreds of Utah companies and the important role our parks, monuments and open spaces that are the infrastructure for a sustainable outdoor economy.” 


The letter specifically mentions several proposals before Congress that would hurt Utah’s outdoor and tourism industries. For example, Congress is currently considering proposals to massively defund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which have helped preserve key recreation areas in Utah, including Antelope Island, Dead Horse Point, and Wasatch Mountain State Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and has also funded community parks in nearly every Utah community. 

“Funding for these key conservation programs is a crucial long-term investment in the Utah economy,” said Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment. “These funds are leveraged many times by private donations and return significant benefits for communities and jobs throughout Utah.” 


The outdoor companies signing the letter also collectively oppose an amendment in the appropriations bill (currently before Congress) that would prevent federal funding to be used in implementing Antiquities Act designations, effectively stripping the President of the power to designate national monuments.  Many iconic Utah parks, such as Zion, Bryce, Arches and Capitol Reef, were designated through the Antiquities Act and now serve as the iconic foundation for many rural Utah towns. 


“The Antiquities Act has been nothing but an economic benefit to Utah,” said a statement released by Outdoor Industry Association.  “To try and completely destroy the powers associated with the Antiquities Act not only ignores the facts of the past, but risks jobs in the future.”


Likewise, Representatives Bishop and Chaffetz, as well as Senators Hatch and Lee, have co-sponsored a proposal by California Representative Kevin McCarthy and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso to eliminate wilderness and roadless protections on 5 million acres of public land in Utah. 


“Support of recreation and conservation are the fundamentals of our business.  We need a supportive and balanced agenda for Utah’s public lands.” said Red Oelerich, Editor of the Outdoor Utah Adventure Journal.  “We’re just asking them to be reasonable, to be ‘pro jobs,’ and ‘pro business.’”